IRISH Horse World hunting correspondent Noel Mullins was the commentator for Sunday’s hound display which took place in the Irish Independent Arena just before the show jumping phase of The Irish Field CCI3* class.

Gavin Shorten, who is in his third season hunting the Tipperary Foxhounds and was the youngest man to take over the role huntsman with the pack when aged 23, brought up 14 and a half couple to Tattersalls. There he was assisted by whip David Beecher, a cousin of show jumper Paul Beecher and the latter’s US-based amateur jockey brother Mark.

There is a close connection between the Foxhounds and eventing as Gavin’s father Cecil used to stand the thoroughbred stallion Stan The Man (sire of Michael Jung’s great four-star ride La Biosthetique Sam, among others) at his Lake View Stud in Askeaton before his sale to Germany. The Tipperarys are the only pack in Ireland to hunt four days a week.

Also on display were 10 and a half couple of Mr Kerr’s Beagles who were paraded by huntsman Grace Kerr whose father Paul, from whom she took over two seasons ago, acted as whipper-in. Having previously been associated with the Kildare Foxhounds, Paul started hunting the South Co Dublin Harriers 23 years ago and uniquely has, as his whipper-ins, daughters Grace, Catherine and Eve.

Among those Noel interviewed during the display were Lieutenant Colonel Tom Freyne, Officer Commanding of the Army Equitation School and a joint-Master of the Tipperarys, and Louth Foxhounds joint-Master Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls and Tattersalls Ireland.

PRESENTATIONS

On hand to help after the display with a photo shoot at the Kiltinan Castle Stud water fence were Ward Union huntsman Pat Coyle and Ward whip and Louth joint-Master Kieran Ryan.

The latter’s wife Mairead, then Curran, competed at the Barcelona Olympics on her great horse Watercolour and the trophy named after him was presented on Sunday to Tegan White McMorrow, as was the Carew trophy, as the Co Antrim-born, Dublin-based quantity surveyor was the leading Irish rider in the CCI3* class with the home-bred skewbald gelding Texan Style.

The Tommy Brennan Cup was presented to Gerald Bloomer (Calliaghstown Flight) as the rider who moved up most places after dressage in the Eventing Ireland CCI2* and completed the competition.

The Roma Kieran Trophy was presented to Sopie Foyle, the winner of Berney Bros Saddlery CCI1* class for ponies on Little Miss Fernhill, Alex Power was the recipient of the David Foster Cup as the best Irish rider in the Kubota CCIJ1* section when winning with Lakantus, while Tessa Harley was the winner of the Laura Breheny Trophy for leading Irish rider in the Connolly’s Red Mills CCI2* class for riders under 25, in which she partnered Catsky into 11th place.

FAMILY AFFAIR

As winner of that class on Tullaher Sunrise, Sam Ecroyd won two trophies as rider and joint-owner, with his mother Penny, of the nine-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding.

Tim Price won a Tattersalls Fox as rider, and one for owner Sue Benson, following his victory in the Land Rover CCI1* class with Falco.

Luc Chateau was presented with the George Mernagh trophy as winner on Propiano de l’Ebat of the CIC3* class, in which he led France to victory in the Nations’ Cup, while Leo Powell, editor of The Irish Field, presented one trophy to Vittoria Panizzon, rider of the CCI3* class winner Chequers Play The Game, and another to the Stravinsky gelding’s owners, Patricia and Amy Lambert.